Problem with friend

Hi,
I have been friends with a girl since we began college together and we have known each other for nearly 7 years now. My problem is this - I came to work in the same place as her about a year ago and since then things have been strained. This is not due to competitiveness at work or anything like that (on my part at least) because we do not work closely together.
She tends to insult me all of the time and then laughs and says it was a joke. In addition, she has made comments about me physically which make me uncomfortable. In contrast, I have gotten to the point where I watch everything I say because she takes issue with everything and gets quite aggressive about it.
Recently, I got the courage to try to explain how stressed it is making me, but she got really angry and sent me a very strange e-mail. My family says I should avoid her, but I am not sure and keep thinking maybe its something I have done?! Sorry this is so long.....Any suggestions as to what this is all about?
Monard

hi Monard,

not knowing your friend, or seeing the two of you in action, it's difficult for me to give an objective opinion, but i can tell you what i've experienced.

i have this friend that i have worked with for over 15 years. she is the same to me, day in and day out. i observe her with others that we both work with, and she is the same with them. last year, we went on a cruise, several people from work and several of her friends from Florida. she basically ignored her friends from work throughout the trip (not just my opinion --- everyone felt that way). she basically ditched us and hung out with her Florida friends. granted, she does not see them as often, but she went out of her way to be "like them" and not like the person we all knew from work.

i guess what i'm trying to say is, people sometimes act a certain way in front of others, maybe to impress them or for their approval, or whatever. is she like this outside of work?

this is what i would do. i wouldn't spend time with a person who insults me, or treats me like crap. i would find friends who appreciate me, who treat me with respect. maybe if she sees you having your own life with your own friends, it will be a wake up call. that's probably a big if.

sorry this is long, but i know exactly what you're talking about. my friend from work and i are going on another cruise, but now that i know how she is, i'm not going to pay any attention to her moodiness or nasty comments. i'm just going to have fun. i would spend less time with her.

take care, and let us know how things are going.

splash

Thanks for your advice and suggestions. I really appreciate it. I have been feeling fairly bad about this situation for awhile but I do realise that you are only getting my side!
Thanks again!
Monard